New Delhi: Amid a debate on ways to check
corruption, former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Monday said the
"never ending greed" can be countered through the "goodness
of youth" who can play a crucial role in countering
challenges like graft and moral turpitude.
He said India's quest to evolve as an economically
developed nation by 2020 are being hindered by issues such as
corruption, moral turpitude and environmental degradation.
In his inaugural address at the second Global
Agri-business Incubation Conference here, Kalam said though
the country has been making significant progress in all
directions, these crucial issues need to be addressed.
"They include corruption and moral turpitude in the
nation, environmental degradation and the need to build a
compassionate society. These are the evils, which need to be
defeated by the goodness of youth," Kalam said.
"The fight for corruption free, ethical society, good
environment hence will have to be fought against this greed
and replace 'what can I take' to the spirit of 'what can I
give'," the former president said.
Emphasising on inculcating the spirit of 'what can I
give', Kalam added that it would not only be one's strength
but also ensure a society, which is compassionate,
environmentally conscious and caring.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 19:22